RFD debuts in the Los Ríos region with an international fashion event
The renowned fashion program, which has had an impact in different regions of the country, will hold a conference and fashion show in January 2026 with national and international designers and artisans, marking a milestone for the regional creative industry, thanks to the support of Fomento Los Ríos.
December 17, 2025.
Valdivia, December 2025 — Runway Fashion Design (RFD) Circular and Sustainable confirms the dates of its eagerly awaited events in the Los Ríos Region and officially presents the 14 creative teams that will bring the RFD Los Ríos 2026 catwalk to life, an initiative promoted with the support of Fomento Los Ríos de Corfo. There are 31 members who make up these proposals, who will showcase 140 outfits in the grand final runway show on January 30 at the Las Marías Aerodrome in Valdivia. The selection includes nine local teams, one guest team from the Biobío Region, and, for the first time, four international collections from Argentina and Uruguay, marking a significant advance in the program's Latin American projection in less than three years since its creation by founder Johana Fernández, recently recognized as one of the 30 inspiring women of Banco de Chile for her impact on the country.
The arrival of RFD in the Los Ríos Region is part of a broader strategy to promote new productive sectors with high growth potential, territorial identity, and international projection. In this sense, the support of Fomento Los Ríos responds to a vision of development that recognizes creative industries as a key axis for regional productive diversification, especially when they integrate innovation, sustainability, and collaboration between local and international actors.
Pablo Díaz, director of Fomento Los Ríos, highlighted that "initiatives such as RFD reflect the strategic value of creative industries for the economic and social development of the region. At Fomento Los Ríos, we have been promoting productive diversification based on sustainability, innovation, and local talent for several years now, and circular fashion is a clear example of how creativity can be transformed into an economic activity with impact. The fact that Los Ríos is hosting an international conference and fashion show reaffirms our commitment to new productive sectors that generate opportunities, employment, and international visibility for the region."
International conference to address fashion, craftsmanship, and sustainability
The program will begin on January 27 in La Unión with the first day of the International Congress on Circular and Sustainable Fashion and Crafts (CIMACS), which will be held in the Municipal Council Chamber. The congress will continue on January 28 in the Auditorium of the Santo Tomás University in Valdivia, where designers, artisans, academics, and leaders of the creative ecosystem will share experiences related to innovation, circularity, and the cultural value of the territories.
On January 30, attention will focus on the grand finale catwalk show at Las Marías Aerodrome, where all the teams will present their collections, revealing designs that combine creativity, sustainability, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Actresses and models from all over Chile will take part, as will the CIFAN Children's and Youth Symphony Orchestra, making this a truly grand initiative.
This fifth edition of CIMACS will bring together leading international voices such as Juan Carlos Mesa, CEO and Creative Director of Maison Mesa; Spanish journalist Jesús Reyes, CEO of CoolHunting Madrid; and Josefina Roveta, founder of Esquina Esquina and a leading figure in the contemporary reinterpretation of Argentine craftsmanship. They will be joined by renowned national figures in design, sustainability, and entrepreneurship, including Guido Vera, Emilio Hernández, Daniela Seguel, Paola Nelson, a special participation from the Ministry of the Environment, and Johana Fernández, founder and director of the brand.
The 2026 edition will include a robust mentoring program, free training opportunities, and co-creation dynamics, reaffirming the collaborative, diverse, and territorial nature that distinguishes RFD. The support of Fomento Los Ríos reinforces its commitment to promoting a more sustainable production model for the textile industry, one of the sectors with the greatest environmental impact globally.
Free tickets for the CIMACS Congress and Fashion Show are now available on the official website www.runwayfashiondesign.com or the ticket office www.evently.cl.
For more information, follow them on Instagram @runwayfashiondesign.
